Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase and gene encoding the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) synthase useful in a process for preparing a PHA, a gene encoding the enzyme, a recombinant vector comprising the gene, a transformant transformed by the vector, a process for producing a PHA synthase utilizing the transformant and a process for preparing a PHA utilizing the transformant. A transformant obtained by introducing a PHA synthase gene from  Pseudomonas putida  P91 strain into a host microorganism is cultured to produce a PHA synthase or PHA.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a polyhydroxyalkanoate (hereinafter, referred to as a “PHA”) synthase, a gene encoding the synthase, a recombinant vector containing the gene, a transformant transformed by the vector, a process for producing the PHA synthase utilizing the transformant, and a process for preparing the PHA utilizing the transformant.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] There have been reported a number of microorganisms producing poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) or another PHA and storing it therein (“Biodegradable Plastic Handbook”, edited by Biodegradable Plastic Research Society, NTS Co. Ltd., p. 178-197 1995). These polymers may be, as conventional plastics, used for producing a variety of products by, for example, melt processing. Since they are biodegradable, they have an advantage that they can be completely degraded by microorganisms in the natural environment, and they do not cause pollution due to remaining in the natural environment like many conventional polymer compounds. Furthermore, they are excellently biocompatible, and thus are expected to be used in applications such as a medical soft member.

[0005] It is known that a composition and a structure of such a PHA produced by a microorganism may considerably vary depending on the type of a microorganism used for the production, a culture-medium composition and culturing conditions. Investigations have been, therefore, mainly focused on controlling such a composition or structure for the purpose of improving physical properties of a PHA.

[0006] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-15604, No. 7-14352 and No. 8-19227 have described that Alcaligenes cutropus H16 (ATCC No. 17699) and its variants may produce 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) and its copolymer with 3-hydroxyvaleric acid (3HV) with various composition ratios by changing a carbon source during culturing.

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2642937 has disclosed that PHA in which a monomer unit is 3-hydroxyalkanoate with 6 to 12 carbon atoms may be produced by supplying a non-cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon as a carbon source to Pseudomonas oleovorans (ATCC No. 29347).

[0008] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-74492 has disclosed methods in which Methylobaterium sp., Paracoccus sp., Alcaligenes sp. and Pseudomonas sp. are contacted with a primary alcohol with 3 to 7 carbon atoms to produce a copolymer of 3HB and 3HV.

[0009] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-93049 and No. 7-265065 have disclosed that Aeromonas caviae is cultured using oleic acid or olive oil as a carbon source to produce a two-component copolymer of 3HB and 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid (3HHx).

[0010] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-191893 has disclosed that Comamonas acidovorans IF013852 is cultured using gluconic acid and 1,4-butanediol as carbon sources to produce a polyester having 3HB and 4-hydroxybutyric acid as monomer units.

[0011] Furthermore, it has been reported that certain microorganisms produce PHAs having a variety of substituents such as groups derived from an unsaturated hydrocarbon, ester, allyl, cyano, groups derived from a halogenated hydrocarbon and epoxide. Recently, there have been attempts for improving physical properties of a PHA produced by a microorganism using such a procedure.

[0012] As an example of such a polymer, a PHA having a phenyl group in its side chain has been developed. For example, Makromol Chem., 191, 1957-1965 (1990); Macromolecules, 24, 5256-5260 (1991); and Chirality, 3, 492-494 (1991) have described production of a PHA comprising 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvaleric acid (3HPV) as a monomer unit by Pseudomonas oleovorans, where there has been observed variation in polymer physical properties probably due to the presence of 3HPV.

[0013] As described above, microorganism-produced PHAs with various combinations of composition and structure have been obtained by varying factors such as the type of a microorganism used, a culture medium composition and culturing conditions. However, each microorganism or PHA synthase has significantly different substrate specificity. Therefore, it has been difficult to produce PHAs comprising different monomer units extensively suitable to a variety of applications using known microorganisms or PHA synthases alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A PHA having a substituent in its side chain as described above may be expected to be a “functional polymer” having significantly useful functions and properties owing to the properties of the introduced substituent. It is, therefore, extremely useful and important to prepare a gene encoding a PHA synthase from a microorganism which can produce and store a very useful polymer having both such functionality and biodegradability; prepare a recombinant vector comprising the gene, a transformant transformed by the vector; and develop a process for producing a PHA synthase utilizing the transformant and a process for preparing a PHA utilizing the transformant.

[0015] In view of usefulness of such a PHA synthase useful in PHA production, an object of the present invention is to provide a PHA synthase, a gene encoding the enzyme, a recombinant vector comprising the gene, a transformant transformed by the vector, a process for producing a PHA synthase utilizing the transformant and a process for preparing a PHA utilizing the transformant.

[0016] For developing a PHA having a novel side-chain structure useful as, for example, a device material or a medical material, the inventors have searched a novel microorganism capable of producing and storing the desired PHA. Additionally, the inventors have intensely investigated for preparing a gene encoding a PHA synthase from such a microorganism, a recombinant vector containing the gene, a transformant transformed by the vector and developing a process for producing a PHA synthase utilizing the transformant and a process for preparing a PHA utilizing the transformant.

[0017] The inventors have finally found a novel microorganism capable of producing and storing a novel PHA comprising 3-hydroxy-5-(4-fluorophenyl)valeric acid (3HFPV) represented by formula (2) as a monomer unit from synthetic 5-(4-fluorophenyl)valeric acid (PPVA) represented by formula (1) as a starting material, and designate it as P91 strain.

[0018] The inventors have also found that P91 strain in capable of producing and storing a PHA comprising 3-hydroxy-4-phenoxy-n-butyric acid (3HPxB) represented by formula (4) as a monomer unit from 4-phenoxy-n-butyric acid (PxBA) represented by formula (3) as a starting material.

[0019] An example of a microorganism capable of producing and storing a PHA comprising 3HPxB as a monomer unit is Pseudomonas oleovorans involved in a process described in Macromolecules. 29, 3432-3435, 1996. This process is considerably different from the process using PxBA as a substrate in P91 strain in that 8-phenoxyoctanoic acid (PxOA) is used as a substrate. In addition, for a PHA produced, the above reported process provides a copolymer consisting of three monomer units, i.e., 3-hydroxy-8-phenoxyoctanoic acid derived from the substrate PxOA, 3-hydroxy-6-phenoxyhexanoic acid as a byproduct derived from a metabolite and 3HPxB. On the other hand, P91 strain can produce a PHA comprising 3HPxB derived from PxBA as a sole phenoxy-containing monomer unit. In this respect, P91 strain is basically different from the above reported strain.

[0020] There are no reports describing microbial production of a PHA comprising 3HPxD as a monomer unit using PxBA as a substrate or 3HPxB as a sole phenoxy-containing monomer unit.

[0021] Microbiological properties of P91 strain according to this invention are as follows.

[0022] <Microbiological properties of P91 strain>

[0023] (Morphologic properties)

[0024] Cell shape and size: Bacilliform, 0.6 μm×1.5 μm

[0025] Cell polymorphism: No

[0026] Motility: Yes

[0027] Sporulation: No

[0028] Gram stainability: Negative

[0029] Colonization: Circular, smooth in the overallperiphery, low convex, smooth surface, gloss, cream color

[0030] (Physiological properties)

[0031] Catalase: Positive

[0032] Oxidase: Positive

[0033] O/F test: oxidized form

[0034] Reduction of a nitrate: Negative

[0035] Indole formation: Negative

[0036] Acidification of dextrose: Negative

[0037] Arginine dihydrolase: Positive

[0038] Urease: Negative

[0039] Esculin hydrolysis: Negative

[0040] Gelatin hydrolysis: Negative

[0041] β-Galactosidase: Negative

[0042] Fluorochrome production on King's B agar: Positive

[0043] (Substrate assimilation ability)

[0044] Dextrose: Positive

[0045] L-Arabinose: Negative

[0046] D-Mannose: Negative

[0047] D-Mannitol: Negative

[0048] N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine: Negative

[0049] Maltose: Negative

[0050] Potassium gluconate: Positive

[0051] n-Capric acid: Positive

[0052] Adipic acid: Negative

[0053] dl-Malic acid: Positive

[0054] Sodium citrate: Positive

[0055] Phenyl acetate: Positive

[0056] From these microbiological properties, the inventors have attempted to categorize P91 strain according to Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Volume 1 (1984) and Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology 9th ed. (1994) to determine that the strain belongs to Pseudomonas putida. Thus, the strain was designated as Pseudomonas putida P91. The inventors have deposited Pseudomonas putida P91 to Patent Microorganism Depository Center in the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, under the deposition number of FERM P-17409. P91 strain has been internationally deposited on the basis of the Budapest Treaty, and its international deposition number is “FERM BP-7373”.

[0057] The inventors have intensely conducted investigation for solving the above problems and finally have succeeded cloning a gene for a PHA synthase from P91 strain to achieve this invention.

[0058] Specifically, a PHA synthase of this invention is characterized in that it has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1 or 3. A PHA synthase according to the present invention may include a mutant PHA synthase where at least one mutation including deletion, substitution or addition of at least one amino acid is introduced as long as it does not deteriorate PHA synthase activity exhibited by a protein comprising these amino acid sequences.

[0059] The present invention also encompasses a PHA synthase gene coding a PHA synthase comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1 or 3. Examples of a sequence of such a gene include SEQ ID NO.: 2 or 4. Furthermore, a mutant PHA synthase gene encoding the above mutant PHA synthase obtained by mutation of the sequence of SEQ ID NOs.: 2 and 4 is included in a PHA synthase gene according to this invention.

[0060] The present invention also encompasses a recombinant vector comprising the above PHA synthase gene and a transformant transformed by the recombinant vector. The present invention also encompasses a process for producing a PHA synthase comprising the steps of culturing the transformant and isolating the PHA synthase from a culture obtained, and a process for preparing a PHA comprising the steps of culturing the transformant and isolating the PHA from a culture obtained.

[0061] The present invention provides a PHA synthase, a gene encoding the PHA synthase, a recombinant vector comprising the gene and a transformant transformed by the recombinant vector. The PHA synthase gene according to the present invention is useful for preparing a PHA having various physical properties because it encodes a PHA synthase using a monomer having a novel side-chain structure as a substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The present invention will be more detailed. A PHA synthase gene of the present invention is isolated from Pseudomonas putida P91 strain. First, a chromosome DNA is obtained from a strain having a PHA synthase gene. The chromosome DNA may be isolated by a known technique.

[0063] For example, after P91 strain is cultured in a LB medium or an M9 medium supplemented with an appropriate carbon source, a chromosome DNA is prepared as described by, for example, Marmer et al. in Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 3. p. 208 (1961). The chromosome DNA thus obtained is digested using an appropriate restriction enzyme (e.g., Sau3AI) and a fragment with a proper length is ligated with a ligatable vector digested with a restriction enzyme (e.g., BamHI) to prepare a gene library. Herein, a proper fragment length varies, e.g., about 4000 to 25000 bps for a usual plasmid vector and about 15000 to 30000 bps for a cosmid or phage vector. A proper length of DNA fragment may be collected by a known method such as a method using a sucrose density gradient or using an agarose gel described in Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1982).

[0064] A vector is a phage vector or plasmid vector which can autonomously replicate in the host microorganism. Examples of phage or cosmid vectors include pWE15, M13, λEMBL3, λEMBL4, λFIXII, λDASHII, λZAPII, λgT10, λgt11, Charon4A and Charon21A. Examples of plasmid vectors include pBR, pUC, pBluescriptII, pGEM, pTZ and pET groups. Various shuttle vectors may be used, e.g., vectors which may autonomously replicate in a plurality of host microorganisms such as E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. These vectors may be also digested with a proper restriction enzyme to provide a desired fragment as described above.

[0065] A chromosome DNA fragment may be ligated with a vector fragment using a DNA ligase. For example, a ligation kit (Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd., etc.) may be used. Thus, for example, a chromosome DNA fragment may be ligated with a vector fragment to prepare a mixture of recombinant plasmids comprising various DNA fragments (hereinafter, referred to as a “gene library”). In addition to a method using a proper length of chromosome DNA fragment, a gene library may be prepared by a method that mRNAs are extracted from P91 strain, purified and used for preparation of a cDNA fragment using a reverse transcriptase as described in Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1982. Alternatively, a gene library is transformed or transduced to E. coli, and then the gene library may be amplified to a large amount as described in Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1982.

[0066] A recombinant vector may be introduced into a host microorganism by a known method. For example, when using E. coli as a host microorganism, a calcium chloride method (Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 53, p. 159 (1970)), a rubidium chloride method (Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 68, p. 253 (1979)), electroporation (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, p. 184 (1994)) may be used. When using a cosmid vector or phage vector, transduction may be conducted using in vitro packaging (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, p. 571 (1994)). Alternatively, a method involving conjugational transfer may be used.

[0067] Then, a probe is prepared for obtaining a DNA fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene of P91 strain.

[0068] Some base sequences have been reported for PHA synthase genes; for example. Peoples, O. P. and Sinskey, A. J., J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15293 (1989); Huisman, G. W. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266, 2191 (1991); Pieper, U. et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 96, 73 (1992); Timm, A. and Steinbuchel, A., Eur. J. Biochem., 209, 15(1992); Matsusaki. H. et al., J. Bacteriol., 180, 6459 (1998).

[0069] From these reported sequences, a region where a sequence is preserved to a higher degree is selected for designing an oligonucleotide. Such an oligonucleotide includes, but not limited to, a sequence described in Timm, A. and Steinbuchel, A., Eur. J. Biochem., 209, 15 (1992). An oligonucleotide may be synthesized using, for example, Custom Synthesis Service, Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech.

[0070] Then, the designed oligonucleotide as a primer is subject to polymerase chain reaction (hereinafter, referred to as “PCR”) using a chromosome DNA in P91 strain as a template to partially amplify the PHA synthase gene. The PCR amplified fragment thus obtained is homologous to the PHA synthase gene of P91 strain to about 100%, and may be expected to give a higher S/N ratio as a probe during colony hybridization and may allow stringency control in hybridization to be facilitated. The above PCR amplified fragment is labeled with an appropriate reagent and used for colony-hybridization of the above chromosome DNA library to select a PHA synthase gene (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, p. 603 (1994)). The PCR amplified fragment may be labeled using a commercially available kit such as AlkPhosDirect (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech).

[0071] A gene fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene may be selected by, in addition to the above method using a genotype, a method using a phenotype where PHA synthesis is directly evaluated. The presence of PHA synthesis may be detected by, for example, staining with Sudan Black B (Archives of Biotechnology. VOl. 71, p. 283 (1970)) or determination of PHA accumulation by phase contrast microscopy.

[0072] A plasmid may be collected from E. coli selected by any of the above methods using an alkali method (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol, 1, p. 161 (1994)) to obtain a DNA fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene. The DNA fragment obtained may be sequenced by, for example, Sanger's sequencing method (Molecular Cloning, Vol. 2, p. 133 (1989). Alternatively, it may be conducted by a dye-primer method or a dye-terminator method using an automatic sequencer such as DNA Sequencer 377A (Parkin Elmer).

[0073] After determining all the sequences, hybridization may be conducted using a DNA fragment prepared by an appropriate method such as chemical synthesis, PCR using a chromosome DNA as a template or digestion a DNA fragment comprising the sequence with a restriction enzyme as a probe to provide a gene of this invention.

[0074] SEQ ID NOs.: 2 and 4 show the sequences of PHA synthase gene of this invention while SEQ ID NOs.: 1 and 3 show the amino acid sequences coded by the genes. As described above, there may be mutations for one or several amino acids such as deletion, substitution or addition as long as the polypeptides having these amino acid sequences retain PHA producing activity. In addition to those having the sequence coding the amino acids of SEQ ID NOs.: 1 and 3, the present invention may include a degenerated isomer coding the same polypeptide which has the same amino acid sequence and is different only in a degeneration codon. Mutation such as deletion, substitution and addition may be introduced by, e.g., a site mutation introduction technique (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology Vol. 1, p. 811 (1994)).

[0075] A transformed microorganism of this invention may be produced by introducing a recombinant vector of the present invention into a host suitable to an expression vector used during preparing the recombinant vector. Examples of microorganisms which may be used as a host include various bacteria such as Esherichia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Ralstonia sp., Alcaligenes sp., Comamonas sp., Burkholderia sp., Agrobacterium sp., Plabobacterium sp., Vibrio sp., Enterobacter sp., Rhizobium sp., Gluconobacter sp., Acinetobacter sp., Moraxella sp., Nitrosomonas sp., Aeromonas sp., Paracoccus sp., Bacillus sp., Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus sp., Coryncbacterium sp., Artbrobacter sp., Achromobacter sp., Micrococcus sp., Mycobacterium sp., Streptococcus sp., Streptomyces sp., Actinomyces sp., Norcadia sp. and Methylobacterium sp. Besides the above bacteria, yeasts and molds such as Saccharomyces sp. and Candida sp. may be used as a host.

[0076] When using a microorganism belonging to Pseudomonas sp., e.g., a bacterium such as E. coli as a host, it is preferable that the recombinant vector of the present invention itself can autonomously replicate in a host used while comprising a constitution required for expression such as a promoter, a DNA comprising a PHA synthase gene and a transcription termination sequence. Expression vectors include pLA2917 (ATCC 37355) having a RK2 replication origin which may be replicated and retained by a range of hosts or pJRD215 (ATCC 37533) having a RSF1010 replication origin, but any vector having a replication origin which may be replicated and retained by a wide range of hosts may be used.

[0077] Any promoter which may be expressed in a host may be used; for example, promoters derived from E. coli, a phage, etc. such as trp. trc, tac, lac, PL, PR, T7 and T3 promoters. A recombinant DNA may be introduced in a bacterium by an appropriate procedure such as the above calcium chloride method and electroporation.

[0078] When using a yeast as a host, an expression vector may be YEp13, YCp50, pRs or pYEX vector. A promoter may be, for example, GAL or AOD promoter. A recombinant DNA may be introduced into an yeast by, for example, electroporation (Methods Enzymol., 194, 182-187 (1990)), a spheroplast method (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 1929-1933 (1978)) and a lithium acetate method (J. Bacteriol., 153, 163-168 (1983)).

[0079] A recombinant vector may further have a fragment for expressional regulation which has a variety of functions for suppression, amplification or triggering of expression; a marker for selection of a transformant; a resistance gene to an antibiotic; or a gene encoding a signal for extracellular secretion.

[0080] A PHA synthase of the present invention may be prepared by culturing a transformant prepared by transforming a host with a recombinant vector having a gene encoding the synthase to produce and accumulate a PHA synthase as a gene product in the culture (cultured bacterium or culture supernatant) and isolating the PHA synthase from the culture.

[0081] The transformant of the present invention may be cultured by a common process used for culturing a host.

[0082] Culturing may be conducted by any of common microorganism culturing processes such as batch, flow batch, continuous culturing and reactor styles.

[0083] For a transformant obtained using a bacterium such as E. coli as a host, a medium used for culturing may be a complete medium or synthetic medium such as LB medium and M9 medium. A microorganism may be grown by aerobically culturing it at a culturing temperature of 25 to 37° C. for 8 to 72 hours to accumulate a PHA synthase in bacterial cells, and the enzyme may be collected. Microbial growth requires a carbon source including sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, galactose and starches; lower alcohols such as ethanol, propanol and butanol; polyalcohols such as glycerol; organic acids such as acetic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid and gluconic acid; and aliphatic acids such as propionic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid and dodecanoic acid.

[0084] Examples of a nitrogen source include ammonia; ammonium salts such as ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphate; and natural product derivatives such as peptone, meat extract, yeast extract, malt extract, casein decomposition products and corn steep liquor. Examples of an inorganic material include potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride. The culture medium may contain an antibiotic such as kanamycin, ampicillin, tetracyclin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin.

[0085] When culturing a microorganism transformed using an expression vector having an inducible promoter, a proper inducer suitable to the type of the promoter may be added to a culture medium. For example, the inducer may be isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), tetracyclin or indoleacrylic acid (IAA).

[0086] A PHA synthase may be separated and purified by centrifuging and collecting cells or a supernatant from a culture obtained and processing it by a technique such as cell disruption extraction, affinity chromatography, cation or anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration alone or in combination as appropriate. Whether a purified material is a desired enzyme may be determined by a usual method such as SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting.

[0087] The present invention is not limited to the procedures as described above for culturing of a transformant using microorganism as a host, production of a PHA synthase by the transformant and accumulating it in microorganisms, and collection of the PHA synthase from the cells.

[0088] When culturing a transformant using a microorganism as a host for PHA production, the procedure may also be used in which the transformant is cultured using an appropriate medium composition and culturing conditions depending on factors such as the host used and the constitution of a recombinant vector introduced in the host and the PHA is obtained from the culture. A medium or culturing conditions may be the same as those illustrated for the above preparation of a PHA synthase.

[0089] A PHA may be collected from cells most conveniently by extraction with an organic solvent such as chloroform as usual, but in an environment where using an organic solvent such as chloroform is undesirable, the culture way be treated by a surfactant such as SDS, an enzyme such as lysozyme, or an agent such as EDTA, sodium hypochlorite and ammonia to remove bacterium components other than the PHA for collecting the PHA.

[0090] The present invention is not limited to the above procedures for culturing of a transformant using a microorganism as a host, production of a PHA by and accumulation thereof in the transformant, and collection of the PHA from the cells.

EXAMPLES

[0091] The present invention will be more specifically described with reference to Examples although these Examples do not limit the technical range of this invention.

Example 1

[0092] Cloning of a PHA synthase gene of P91 strain

[0093] P91 strain was cultured in 100 mL of LB medium (1% polypeptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% sodium chloride, pH 7.4) at 30° C. overnight and then a chromosome DNA was separated and collected as described by Marmer. The chromosome DNA obtained was completely digested using a restriction enzyme BglII. A vector pUC18 was cleaned with a restriction enzyme BamHI. After dephosphorylation of the terminals (Molecular Cloning, Vol. 1. p. 572 (1989), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), the digested vector and the chromosome DNA fragment after BglII complete digestion were ligated using a DNA ligation kit Ver. II (Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.). The ligated DNA fragment was used to transform Escheichia coli HB101 strain for preparing a chromosome DNA library for P91 strain.

[0094] Then, in order to select a DNA fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene of P91 strain, a probe was prepared. An oligonucleotide consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs.: 5 and 6 (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech) was prepared and used as a primer for PCR. An amplified fragment was used as a probe. Labeling of the probe was conducted using AlkPhosDirect (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The probe thus obtained was used to select an E. coli strain containing a recombinant plasmid comprising the PHA synthase gene from the chromosome DNA library of P91 strain by colony hybridization. From the selected strain, the plasmid was collected by an alkali method to prepare a DNA fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene.

[0095] The gene fragment thus obtained was recombined in a vector pBBR122 (Mo Bi Tec) comprising a wide host range of replication region which did not belong to IncP, IncQ or IncW in an incompatible group. The recombinant plasmid was transformed in Pseudomonas putida P91ml strain (a strain depleted of PHA synthesizing ability) by electroporation, and then the P91ml strain regained PHA synthesizing ability and exhibited complementarity.

[0096] The fragment comprising a PHA synthase gene was sequenced by Sanger's sequencing method. It was thus found that the fragment comprised a PHA synthase gene having the sequences of SEQ ID NOs.: 2 and 4. SEQ ID NOs.: 1 and 3 show the amino acid sequences coded by SEQ ID NOs.: 2 and 4, respectively.

Example 2

[0097] Recombination of a PHA synthase gene of P91 strain to an expression vector

[0098] An oligonucleotide having a sequence around the initiation codon of the PHA synthase gene of SEQ ID NO.: 2 (SEQ ID NO.: 7) and an oligonucleotide having a sequence around the termination codon (SEQ ID NO.: 8) were designed and synthesized (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The oligonucleotides were used as a primer for PCR to amplify the whole length of the PHA synthase gene (LA-PCR kit; Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.).

[0099] An oligonucleotide having a sequence around the initiation codon of the PHA synthase gene of SEQ ID NO.: 4 (SEQ ID NO.: 9) and an oligonucleotide having a sequence around the termination codon (SEQ ID NO.: 10) were designed and synthesized (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech). The oligonucleotides were used as a primer for PCR to amplify the whole length of the PHA synthase gene (LA-PCR kit; Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.).

[0100] Each of the obtained PCR amplified fragment was completely digested using a restriction enzyme HindIII, and ligated to an expression vector pTrc99A which had been truncated with a restriction enzyme HindIII and dephosphorylated (Molecular Cloning, Vol. 1, p. 5.7.2 (1989), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), using a DNA ligation kit Ver. II (Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd).

[0101] Using the recombinant plasmids, Escherichia coli HB101 was transformed by a calcium chloride method (Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.), and recombinant plasmids collected from the transformants were designated as pP91-C1 (derived from SEQ ID NO.: 2) and pP91-C2 (derived from SEQ ID NO.: 4), respectively.

Example 3

[0102] PHA production (1) using a PHA synthase gene recombinant E. coli

[0103] Using the recombinant plasmids obtained in Example 2, pP91-C1 (derived from SEQ ID NO.: 2) and pP91-C2 (derived from SEQ ID NO.: 4), an Escherichia coli HB101fB (fadB deficient strain) was transformed by a calcium chloride method to prepare recombinant E. coli strains derived from the recombinant plasmids, respectively.

[0104] Each of the pP91-C1 and pP91-C2 recombinant strains was inoculated to 200 mL of M9 medium containing 0.5% yeast extract and 0.1% FPVA, and the medium was shaken at 37° C. with a rate of 125 strokes/min. After 24 hours, the cells were collected by centrifugation, washed once with cold methanol and lyophilized.

[0105] The lyophilized pellet was suspended in 100 mL of chloroform and the suspension was stirred at 60° C. for 20 hours to extract a PHA. After filtering the extract through a membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm, the filtrate was concentrated by rotary evaporation. Then, the concentrate was re-suspended in cold methanol and the precipitant was collected and dried in vacuo to provide a PHA. The PHA thus obtained was subject to methanolysis as usual and analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry apparatus (GC-MS, Shimazu QP-5050, EI technique) to identify methyl-esterified PHA monomer units. The results are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 pP91-C1 pP91-C2 recombinant recombinant strain strain Cell dry weight 810 mg/L 800 mg/L Polymer dry weight  24 mg/L  23 mg/L Polymer dry weight/Cell  3%  3% dry weight Monomer unit composition (area ratio) 3-Hydroxybutyric acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyvaleric acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyhexanoic acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyheptanoic acid  5%  3% 3-Hydxoxyoctanoic acid  4%  5% 3-Hydroxynonanoic acid  9% 11% 3-Hydroxydecanoic acid 10% 12% 3-Hydroxy-5-(4-fluorophenyl) 72% 69% valeric acid

Example 4

[0106] PHA production (2) using a PHA synthase gene recombinant E. coli)

[0107] Each of the pP91-C1 and pP91-C2 recombinant strains was inoculated to 200 mL of M9 medium containing 0.5% yeast extract and 0.2% PxBA, and then cultured with shaking at 37° C. with a rate of 125 strokes/min. After 24 hours, the cells were collected by centrifugation, washed once with cold methanol and lyophilized.

[0108] The lyophilized pellet was suspended in 100 mL of chloroform and the suspension was stirred at 60° C. for 20 hours to extract a PHA. After filtering the extract through a membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm, the filtrate was concentrated by rotary evaporation. Then, the concentrate was re-suspended in cold methanol and only the precipitant was collected and dried in vacuo to provide a PHA. The PHA thus obtained was subject to methanolysis as usual and analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry apparatus (GC-Ms, Shimazu QP-5050, EI technique) to identify methyl-esterified PHA monomer units. The results are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 pP91-C1 pP91-C2 recombinant recombinant strain strain Cell dry weight 750 mg/L 720 mg/L Polymer dry weight  4 mg/L  4 mg/L Polymer dry weight/Cell 0.5%  0.6%  dry weight Monomer unit composition (area ratio) 3-Hydroxybutyric acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyvaleric acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyhexanoic acid  0%  0% 3-Hydroxyheptanoic acid  2%  2% 3-Hydxoxyoctanoic acid  3%  3% 3-Hydroxynonanoic acid  5%  7% 3-Hydroxydecanoic acid  5%  6% 3-Hydroxy-4-phenoxy-n- 85% 82% butyric acid

Example 5

[0109] Homology of a PHAsynthase gene of P91 strain

[0110] In the same manner as in Example 1, the chromosome DNA of P91 strain was separated and collected. Further, Pseudomonas olevorans ATCC29347, Pseudomonas putida Tk2440 and Pseudomonas aeruginose PA01 were cultured and the chromosome DNAs thereof were separated and collected in the same as in Example 1.

[0111] Next, a probe for hybridization was prepared for confirming homology of a PHAsynthase gene of P91 strain. In the same manner as in Example 2, an oligonucleotide having the sequences of SEQ ID NOs 7 and 8 were synthesized. (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech) PCR was conducted using the thus synthesized oligonucleotide as a primer and the chromosome DNA as a template. The obtained PCR amplified DNA fragments were used as a probe. Labeling of the probe using AlkphosDirect (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech) was conducted to obtain the labeled probe referred to as “phaC1”. In the same manner as above, an oligonucleotide having the sequences of SEQ ID NOs 9 and 10 were synthesized. (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech) PCR was conducted using the thus synthesized oligonucleotide as a primer and the chromosome DNA as a template. Labeling of the obtained PCR amplified DNA fragments was conducted in the same manner as above to obtain the labeled probe referred to as “phaC2”.

[0112] Using the thus obtained probes, homology of the PHA synthase gene was confirmed by a dot-blot method. The thus prepared chromosome DNA was alkalized and then blotted on a nylon film (Tropilon-45, produced by Tropix Co.) by 1 μg at respective points using a dot-blot apparatus (RRL).

[0113] The film was dried at 80° C. for two hours, then put in a vinyl bag. 3 ml of the solution for hybridization prepared according to the recipe of AlkPhosDirect was added thereto, and hybridization was conducted at 55° C. for one hour. 15 ng of the labeled probe phaC1 or pheC2 per 3 ml of the above hybridization solution (5 ng/ml) was added to the nylon film, and hybridization was conducted at 55° C. for 12 hours. And then the nylon film was put out from the vinyl bag, and washed two times for 10 minutes at 55° C. with a first washing buffer according the recipe of AlkPhosDirect. And then after it was washed two times for 5 minutes at room temperature with a second washing buffer according to the recipe of AlkPhosDirect, a detecting step was carried out using CDP-Star attached to AlkPhosDirect according to the recipe.

[0114] Further, a detecting step was carried out under the same conditions as above except that hybridization and first washing were conducted at 60° C. or 65° C. The results were shown in Table 3 and 4. TABLE 3 Temperature (° C.) 55 60 65 Probe phaC1 Target DNA P91 Strain A A B ATCC29347 Strain C D D Probe phaC2 Target DNA P91 Strain A A B ATCC29347 Strain C D D

[0115] TABLE 4 Temperature (° C.) 55 60 65 Probe phaC1 Target DNA P91 Strain A A B ATCC29347 Strain C D D KT2440 Strain B C D PAO1 Strain D D D Probe phaC2 Target DNA P91 Strain A A B ATCC29347 Strain C D D KT2440 Strain D C D PAO1 Strain D D D

[0116]

0 SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 10 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 559 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Pseudomonas putida P91 <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase <400> SEQUENCE: 1 Met Ser Asn Lys Asn Asn Asp Asp Leu Gln Arg Gln Ala Ser Glu Asn 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Pro Ile Ile Gly Leu Arg Arg Lys Asp Leu Leu 20 25 30 Ser Ser Ala Arg Met Val Leu Arg Gln Ala Ile Lys Gln Pro Leu His 35 40 45 Ser Ala Lys His Val Ala His Phe Gly Leu Gln Leu Lys Asp Val Ile 50 55 60 Phe Gly Lys Ser Gly Leu Gln Pro Glu Gly Asp Asp Arg Arg Phe Ser 65 70 75 80 Asp Pro Ala Trp Ser Gln Asn Pro Leu Tyr Arg Arg Tyr Leu Gln Thr 85 90 95 Tyr Leu Ala Trp Arg Lys Glu Leu His Asp Trp Ile Gly Asn Ser Asn 100 105 110 Leu Ser Glu Gln Asp Ile Ser Arg Ala His Phe Val Ile Asn Leu Met 115 120 125 Thr Glu Ala Met Ala Pro Thr Asn Ser Ala Ala Asn Pro Ala Ala Val 130 135 140 Lys Arg Phe Phe Glu Thr Gly Gly Lys Ser Leu Leu Asp Gly Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 His Leu Ala Lys Asp Met Val His Asn Gly Gly Met Pro Ser Gln Val 165 170 175 Asn Met Asp Ala Phe Glu Val Gly Lys Asn Leu Ala Thr Thr Glu Gly 180 185 190 Ala Val Val Phe Arg Asn Asp Val Leu Glu Leu Ile Gln Tyr Arg Pro 195 200 205 Ile Thr Glu Gln Val His Glu Lys Pro Leu Leu Val Val Pro Pro Gln 210 215 220 Ile Asn Lys Phe Tyr Val Phe Asp Leu Ser Pro Glu Lys Ser Leu Ala 225 230 235 240 Arg Phe Cys Leu Arg Ser Thr Val Gln Thr Phe Ile Val Ser Trp Arg 245 250 255 Asn Pro Asn Lys Ser Gln Arg Glu Trp Gly Leu Ser Thr Tyr Ile Asp 260 265 270 Ala Leu Lys Glu Ala Val Asp Val Val Leu Ala Ile Thr Gly Ser Lys 275 280 285 Asp Leu Asn Met Leu Gly Ala Cys Ser Gly Gly Ile Thr Cys Thr Ala 290 295 300 Leu Val Gly His Tyr Ala Ala Leu Gly Glu Lys Lys Val Asn Ala Leu 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Val Leu Asp Thr Thr Leu Asp Thr Gln Val Ala 325 330 335 Leu Phe Val Asp Glu Gln Thr Leu Glu Ser Ala Lys Arg His Ser Tyr 340 345 350 Gln Ala Gly Val Leu Glu Gly Arg Asp Met Ala Lys Val Phe Ala Trp 355 360 365 Met Arg Pro Asn Asp Leu Ile Trp Asn Tyr Trp Val Asn Asn Tyr Leu 370 375 380 Leu Gly Asn Glu Pro Pro Val Phe Asp Ile Leu Phe Trp Asn Asn Asp 385 390 395 400 Ile Thr Arg Leu Pro Ala Ala Phe His Gly Asp Leu Ile Glu Met Phe 405 410 415 Lys Asn Asn Pro Leu Val Arg Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Val Cys Gly Thr 420 425 430 Pro Ile Asp Leu Ser Gln Val Thr Thr Asp Ile Phe Ser Val Ala Gly 435 440 445 Thr Asn Asp His Ile Thr Pro Trp Lys Ser Cys Tyr Lys Ser Ala Gln 450 455 460 Leu Phe Gly Gly Lys Val Glu Phe Leu Leu Ser Asn Ser Gly His Ile 465 470 475 480 Gln Ser Ile Leu Asn Pro Pro Gly Asn Pro Lys Ser Arg Tyr Met Thr 485 490 495 Ser Ser Glu Met Pro Ala Gln Ala Asp Asp Trp Gln Glu Asn Ser Thr 500 505 510 Lys His Thr Asp Ser Trp Trp Leu Tyr Trp Gln Ala Trp Leu Ala Glu 515 520 525 Arg Ser Gly Ala Leu Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Lys Leu Gly Asn Lys Ala 530 535 540 Tyr Pro Ser Ala Glu Ala Ser Pro Gly Thr Tyr Val His Glu Arg 545 550 555 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 1680 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Pseudomonas putida P91 <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)...(1680) Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase encoding sequence <400> SEQUENCE: 2 atgagtaaca agaacaacga tgacctgcag cgccaagcct ctgaaaacac cctgggcctg 60 agccccatca ttggcctgcg ccgaaaggat ttgctgtctt cggcccggat ggtgctgcgt 120 caggccatca agcaaccgct gcacagtgcc aagcacgtcg cgcatttcgg cctgcagctc 180 aaggacgtga tcttcggcaa gtccggcctg cagccggagg gcgacgaccg ccgcttcagc 240 gacccggcct ggagccagaa cccgctgtac cgccgctacc tgcagaccta cctggcctgg 300 cgcaaggaac tgcacgactg gatcggcaac agcaacctgt cggagcagga catcagccgc 360 gcgcacttcg tcatcaacct gatgaccgag gccatggccc ccaccaacag cgcggccaac 420 ccggcagcgg tcaagcgctt cttcgaaacc ggtggcaaga gcctgctcga cggcctgtcg 480 cacctggcca aggacatggt ccacaacggc ggcatgccca gccaggtcaa catggacgcc 540 ttcgaggtgg gcaagaacct ggccaccacc gagggcgccg tggtatttcg caacgacgtg 600 ctggagctga tccagtaccg cccgatcacc gagcaggtgc acgaaaagcc gctgctggtg 660 gtaccgccgc agatcaacaa gttctacgtc ttcgacctca gcccggaaaa gagcctggcg 720 cgcttctgcc tgcgctccac ggtgcagacc ttcatcgtga gctggcgcaa ccccaacaag 780 tcccagcgcg agtggggcct gtcgacctac atcgatgcgc tcaaggaggc cgtcgacgtg 840 gtgctggcaa tcaccggcag caaggacctg aacatgctcg gtgcctgctc cggcggcatc 900 acctgcaccg cgctggtggg ccactacgcg gcactgggcg agaagaaggt caatgccctg 960 accctgctgg tgagcgtgct cgacaccacc ctcgacaccc aggtggcgct gttcgtcgac 1020 gagcagaccc tggagtcggc caagcgccat tcctaccagg ccggtgtgct cgaaggccgc 1080 gacatggcca aggtgttcgc ctggatgcgc cccaacgacc tgatctggaa ctactgggtc 1140 aacaactacc tgctcggcaa cgagccgccg gtgttcgaca tcctgttctg gaacaacgac 1200 atcacgcgcc tgcccgccgc cttccacggc gacctgatcg aaatgttcaa gaacaacccg 1260 ctggtgcgtc ccggtgcact ggaagtgtgc ggcacgccga tcgacctgag ccaggtcacc 1320 accgacatct tcagcgtggc cggcaccaac gatcacatca ccccatggaa gtcctgctac 1380 aagtcggcgc agctgttcgg cggcaaggtc gagttcctgc tgtccaacag cgggcatatc 1440 cagagcatcc tcaacccgcc gggcaacccc aagtcgcgct acatgaccag cagcgagatg 1500 ccggcccagg ccgacgactg gcaggagaac tccaccaagc acaccgattc ctggtggctg 1560 tactggcagg cgtggctggc cgagcgctcc ggcgcactca agccggcacc cgccaagctg 1620 ggcaacaagg cctacccgag cgccgaagcg tcgcccggca cctacgtcca cgaacgctga 1680 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 560 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Pseudomonas putida P91 <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase <400> SEQUENCE: 3 Met Lys Asp Lys Pro Ala Lys Pro Gly Val Pro Thr Pro Ala Ala Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Asn Val Arg Ser Ala Ile Ser Gly Leu Arg Gly Arg Asp Leu Leu 20 25 30 Ser Thr Val His Gln Leu Gly Arg His Gly Leu Arg His Pro Leu His 35 40 45 Thr Ala Arg His Leu Leu Ala Leu Gly Gly Gln Leu Gly Arg Val Met 50 55 60 Leu Gly Asp Thr Pro Tyr Gln Pro Ser Pro Arg Asp Thr Arg Phe Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Pro Ala Trp Gln Leu Asn Pro Leu Tyr Arg Arg Gly Leu Gln Ala 85 90 95 Tyr Leu Ala Trp Gln Gln Gln Thr Cys Gln Trp Ile Asp Glu Ser Gln 100 105 110 Leu Asp Asp Asp Asp Arg Ala Arg Ala His Phe Val Phe Ser Leu Leu 115 120 125 Asn Asp Ala Met Ser Pro Ser Asn Thr Leu Leu Asn Pro Ala Ala Val 130 135 140 Lys Glu Leu Leu Asn Ser Gly Gly Leu Ser Leu Val Arg Gly Leu Asn 145 150 155 160 His Leu Leu Asp Asp Leu Arg His Asn Asp Gly Leu Pro Arg Gln Val 165 170 175 Asn Pro Asp Ala Phe Glu Val Gly Arg Asn Leu Ala Ser Thr Ala Gly 180 185 190 Ala Val Val Phe Arg Asn Glu Leu Leu Glu Leu Ile Gln Tyr Arg Pro 195 200 205 Met Ser Glu Lys Gln Tyr Ala Arg Pro Leu Leu Val Val Pro Pro Gln 210 215 220 Ile Asn Lys Phe Tyr Ile Phe Asp Leu Ser Pro Thr Asn Ser Phe Val 225 230 235 240 Gln Tyr Ala Leu Lys Asn Gly Leu Gln Thr Phe Met Ile Ser Trp Arg 245 250 255 Asn Pro Asp Ala Arg His Arg Glu Trp Gly Leu Ser Ser Tyr Val Ala 260 265 270 Ala Val Glu Glu Ala Met Asn Val Cys Arg Ser Ile Thr Gly Ser Arg 275 280 285 Asp Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Ala Cys Ala Gly Gly Leu Thr Ile Ala Ala 290 295 300 Leu Gln Gly His Leu Gln Ala Lys Arg Gln Met Arg Arg Val His Ser 305 310 315 320 Ala Thr Tyr Leu Val Ser Leu Leu Asp Ser Gln Phe Asp Ser Pro Ala 325 330 335 Ser Leu Phe Ala Asp Glu Gln Thr Leu Glu Ala Ala Lys Arg Arg Ser 340 345 350 Tyr Gln Gln Gly Val Leu Glu Gly Arg Glu Met Ala Arg Val Phe Ala 355 360 365 Trp Met Arg Pro Asn Asp Leu Ile Trp Asn Tyr Phe Val Asn Asn Tyr 370 375 380 Leu Leu Gly Lys Ala Pro Pro Ala Phe Asp Ile Leu Tyr Trp Asn Asn 385 390 395 400 Asp Asn Ser Arg Leu Pro Ala Ala Leu His Gly Asp Leu Leu Asp Phe 405 410 415 Phe Lys Phe Asn Pro Leu Thr His Ala Asp Gly Leu Glu Val Cys Gly 420 425 430 Thr Pro Ile Asp Leu Asn Lys Val Thr Val Asp Ser Phe His Val Ala 435 440 445 Gly Ser Asn Asp His Ile Thr Pro Trp Asp Ala Val Tyr Arg Ser Ala 450 455 460 Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Glu Arg Arg Phe Val Leu Ala Asn Ser Gly His 465 470 475 480 Val Gln Ser Ile Leu Asn Pro Pro Gly His Pro Lys Ala His Phe Val 485 490 495 Glu Asn Pro Arg Leu Ser Ser Asp Pro Arg Ala Trp Tyr His Asp Ala 500 505 510 Gln Lys Val Glu Gly Ser Trp Trp Pro Gln Trp Leu Asp Trp Ile Gln 515 520 525 Ala Arg Ser Gly Ala Gln Arg Glu Thr Arg Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Ala 530 535 540 Asn Tyr Pro Pro Met Asp Pro Ala Pro Gly Thr Tyr Val Leu Val Arg 545 550 555 560 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 1683 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Pseudomonas putida P91 <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)...(1683) Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase encoding sequence <400> SEQUENCE: 4 atgaaagaca agcccgcgaa gcccggggta ccgacccccg ctgcctatct caacgtgcgc 60 agcgccatca gtggcctgcg cggtcgcgac ctgctgtcga cggtgcacca gctggggcgc 120 cacggcctgc gtcacccgct gcacacggcg cgccacctgc tggcgctggg tggccagctg 180 gggcgcgtga tgctgggcga taccccctac cagccctcgc cacgcgacac ccgcttcaac 240 gacccggcct ggcagctcaa cccgctgtac cgacgcggcc tgcaggccta cctggcctgg 300 cagcagcaga cctgccagtg gatcgacgag agccagctgg acgacgatga ccgcgcccgc 360 gcgcacttcg tgttctcgct gctcaacgat gcaatgtcgc ccagcaacac cctgctcaac 420 ccggcggcgg tcaaggagct gctgaactcc ggcgggctga gcctggtgcg cggcttgaac 480 cacctgctcg acgacctgcg ccacaacgac ggcctgccac gccaggtcaa cccggacgcc 540 ttcgaggtgg gcaggaacct ggccagcacc gccggcgcgg tggtgtttcg caacgagctg 600 ctggagctga tccagtaccg cccgatgagc gaaaaacagt acgcccggcc cctgctggtg 660 gtgccgccgc agatcaacaa gttctacatc ttcgacctca gcccgaccaa cagctttgtg 720 cagtacgccc tcaagaacgg cctgcagacc ttcatgatca gctggcgcaa ccccgacgcc 780 cggcatcgcg aatggggcct gtcgagctac gtggcggcgg tcgaggaagc catgaacgtg 840 tgccgctcga tcaccggcag ccgcgacgtc aacctgcttg gcgcctgtgc cggcgggttg 900 accatcgcgg ccctgcaggg tcacctgcag gccaagcgcc agatgcgccg ggtgcacagc 960 gccacctacc tggtcagcct gctcgacagc cagttcgaca gccccgccag cctgttcgcc 1020 gacgagcaga ccctggaggc ggccaagcgc cgctcctacc agcagggcgt gctggagggc 1080 cgcgagatgg cacgggtgtt cgcctggatg cgccccaacg acctgatctg gaactacttc 1140 gtcaacaact acctgctggg caaggcgccc ccggcattcg acatcctgta ctggaacaac 1200 gacaacagcc gcctgccggc cgcgctgcac ggcgatctgc tggacttctt caaattcaac 1260 ccgctgacgc acgccgacgg cctcgaggta tgcggcacgc cgatcgacct gaacaaggtc 1320 acggtggaca gcttccacgt ggccggcagc aacgaccaca tcaccccgtg ggacgcggtg 1380 taccgctcgg ccctgctgct gggcggcgag cggcgcttcg tgctggccaa cagcgggcat 1440 gtgcagagca tcctcaaccc accgggccac cccaaggcgc attttgtcga gaaccccagg 1500 ctgagcagcg acccgcgggc ctggtaccac gatgcgcaga aggtcgaggg cagctggtgg 1560 ccgcagtggc tcgactggat acaggcgcgc tccggtgcgc agcgcgaaac ccgcctgtcg 1620 ctgggcagcg ccaattaccc tcccatggac cccgcacccg gcacctacgt gctggtgcgc 1680 tga 1683 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Probe sequence <400> SEQUENCE: 5 tgctggaact gatccagtac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Probe sequence <400> SEQUENCE: 6 gggttgagga tgctctggat gtg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Primer sequence for PCR <400> SEQUENCE: 7 cagccaagct tgtactcgtc tcaggacaac 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 29 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Primer sequence for PCR <400> SEQUENCE: 8 agagataagc ttgcggcatg cgcgagccc 29 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Primer sequence for PCR <400> SEQUENCE: 9 cattgaagct ttggttgatg gcctgacgac 30 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 29 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Primer sequence for PCR <400> SEQUENCE: 10 ctccaagctt cggtcgcggg tcttcatcc 29 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 2. An isolated polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase having a modified amino acid sequence comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in which at least one amino acid is deleted, substituted or added, wherein said modified amino acid sequence hybridizes to the amino acid sequence of said SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions.
 3. A polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene comprising a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase according to claim
 2. 4. A polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene comprising a DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 5. An isolated polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 6. An isolated polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase having a modified amino acid sequence comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 in which at least one amino acid is deleted, substituted or added, wherein said modified amino acid sequence hybridizes to the amino acid sequence of said SEQ ID NO: 3 under stringent conditions.
 7. A polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene comprising a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase according to claim
 6. 8. The polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene comprising a DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 9. A recombinant vector comprising the gene according to claim 3, 4, 7 or 8 as a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene.
 10. A transformed microorganism transformed by introduction of the recombinant vector according to claim
 9. 11. A method for preparing a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising the steps of culturing the transformed microorganism according to claim 10 in a medium containing a substrate for a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase and isolating the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the culture obtained.
 12. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase comprising the steps of culturing the transformed microorganism according to claim 10 and making the transformed microorganism produce the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase. 